Hengistbury Head is a headland jutting into the English Channel between Bournemouth and Christchurch, at the end is a spit that creates the narrow entrance to Christchurch Harbour.
Hengistbury Head beach is a pebble beach below the imposing clay and ironstone cliffs, with the Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve separates Poole Bay and Christchurch Bay and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Not so much a beach holiday location but a good place to explore and go for walks along gravel paths throughout the nature reserve.
Facilities include pay and display car park, toilets, cafe and the Hengistbury Head Centre.
We have no current information on dog restrictions for Hengistbury Head Beach.
Water samples are taken at regular intervals during the bathing season and at the end of the season the water quality is classified as:
Excellent: the highest classification meaning the water is cleanest
Good: generally good water quality
Sufficient: meets minimum standards
Poor: You are advised not to swim. The beach will stay open and an action plan should be in place to improve the water quality.
Our weather forecast for Christchurch in Dorset
Today (Saturday, Jan 16)
Expect a temperature in the range 8.1℃ to 9.7℃ with a wind speed 8.3 m/sec (W)
Sunday, Jan 17
Expect a temperature in the range 5.4℃ to 6℃ with a wind speed 6.1 m/sec (WNW)
Monday, Jan 18
Expect a temperature in the range 5.3℃ to 6.2℃ with a wind speed 3.7 m/sec (W)
Tuesday, Jan 19
Expect a temperature in the range 10.2℃ to 10.5℃ with a wind speed 12.3 m/sec (SW)
Wednesday, Jan 20
Expect a temperature in the range 10.4℃ to 10.8℃ with a wind speed 14.3 m/sec (SSW)
Thursday, Jan 21
Expect a temperature in the range 6.7℃ to 7.4℃ with a wind speed 13.9 m/sec (WSW)
Friday, Jan 22
Expect a temperature in the range 4.2℃ to 4.4℃ with a wind speed 5.7 m/sec (W)
Weather forecast from Yr, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK
Tides
Our tide forecast for Hengistbury Head Beach in Dorset.
In this 'you may also like' section we attempt to answer what else can I do? Here you have a list by order of being the closest some more beaches, things to see and do, places to eat and upcoming events.
A sandy beach at the tip of Hengistbury Head. Swimmers, paddlers and watersports are segregated on designated areas between numbered groynes. The collection of 300 plus wooden beach chalets may look rough but the huts are in great demand due the excellent location. Facilities include toilets, cafe, bistro and shop on the sandbank; Mudeford Quay facilities including pub, cafe, shop Read more…
Christchurch Priory is an ecclesiastical parish and former priory church in Christchurch and is one of the longest parish churches in the country and is larger than most English Anglican Cathedrals. Read more…
Highcliffe beach is sand and shingle beach with groynes below grassy cliffs. The beach has areas marked for swimmers and watersports, providing safe conditions. Highcliffe beach also provides good access to the fossil hunting clay cliffs at Barton on Sea. The beach has a large car park and most facilities are by the car park or a short walk to Read more…
Avon Beach is situated at Mudeford to the east side of the Christchurch Harbour entrance, near Bournemouth and is a 1/4 mile of sandy beach with views of the Isle of Wight and the Needles Lighthouse. Avon beach is a great family beach providing a great place for beach games, a safe gentle slope into the sea and sand bars Read more…
Highcliffe Castle is a grade I listed building situated on a cliff-top site overlooking Christchurch Bay, Dorset. The castle was built in the early 1830s by Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay in a Gothic Revival style on the site of High Cliff house, a Georgian Mansion. The design, by William Donthorne, has carved Medieval stonework salvaged from the Read more…
Mudeford Quay is at the entrance to Christchurch harbour is not a beach but provides a great family day out location. You can fish off the quay, walk to the beaches nearby, take the ferry to Mudeford Sandbanks and Hengistbury Head or participate in watersports. From this point you can sail, windsurf, canoe in Christchurch Harbour or out to sea. Read more…
The Mudeford Lifeboat station is located at Mudeford Quay and operates an inshore lifeboat. This is a very picturesque location at the entrance to Christchurch harbour. Visits are allowed during crew training, check schedule on display in boathouse notice board. Read more…
Highcliffe Castle beach is a sand and shingle beach backed by woods and Highcliffe Castle. Limited facilities: parking, toilets and cafe in the grounds of Highcliffe Castle. Note that the parking in the woods at Highcliffe Castle can fill up early in good weather. You can park on Highcliffe cliff-top and follow the Coastal Path to the Castle and then Read more…
Christchurch Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle that has stonework dated to 1160 AD. The castle’s site is inside the old Saxon Burh dominating the River Avon’s lowest crossing. Alonmgside the castle you have a chamber block now known as the Norman House. Read more…
Friars Cliff beach is a mixture of sand and shingle with great views across Christchurch Bay to the Isle of Wight. Good family beach with safe swimming, backed by a promenade that has wheelchair access. Facilities include car parks, toilets, cafe, lifeguards in the summer and beach hut hire. Read more…
